The first order of business is that most retail and consumer model notebooks sold in the US have a warranty only good in the US. That means if you have a problem overseas (regardless of whether there is a service center there or not) you may only be able to get service by shipping it back to a US service center.
HP has international warranties on its business notebooks. For example the HPnx7000 is the business equivalent of the consumer HPZT3000/Compaq X1000 15.4" LCD Pentium M notebook I have (6.5 pounds).
As you are overseas and say you have to have a a notebook that will work for the duration you really need to get a 2 year international warranty. There is no guarantee any notebook will last 2 years without problems.
In the US it is safe to get a 1 year limited warranty (what comes with it standard) and then double the warranty to 2 years limited for free with a AMEX or Visa/MC gold card that has warranty doubling. However, again, that would apply to US purchases and warranty service.
HP/Compaq, Toshiba, and Sony all have similar notebooks but Sony did come in last in service recently.
I recommend that you go to hp.com and access the business line (which has an international warranty). Look at the HPnc6000 (very high rated at cnet --about 8.4)which has a 14" square LCD but no firewire or the HPnx7000 series (see X1000forums.com) which has the 15.4" widescreen (Pentium M Centrino with 3.5-5 hours battery life).
Either way you should get the Pentium M 725 1.6 Dothan processor (don't go lower) to get the full 2mb L2 system cache.
Hi. I can't decide which one to get. Firstly, I will be using the laptop as for work which mostly involves surfing the net, writing, research powerpoint presentations, and spreadsheets. Will be used as well for pleasure, surfing the net, watching some DVD's and occasional travel. I will be leaving the US for 2 years so this laptop can't breakdown during that duration. I will be going to the Philippines for work. I do know that HP does have a service center there and pretty certain that Sony does as well. Most likely Toshiba as well.
I was set to buy the HP DV1040 however, when I told my friends, they discouraged me. They said that HP makes inferior laptops, the parts are inferior, the workmanship inferior just overall bad laptops. They told me that Toshiba's and Sony's are pretty reliable. The problem I've with Tosiba M35-XS349 or 329 was that it had problems with overheating. The guy I spoke to in Best Buy also said that they had a lot of returns with the Toshiba due to overheating. No returns with the HP or Sony. The problem with Sony is the price although it is on sale right now for $1649. I read somewhere that their service is poor as well.
Please help. This is my first laptop and it is a big purchase so I want to make sure that I get the laptop that will be at least durable and will not breakdown.
Which is better HP DV1040 vs Sony S260 vs Toshiba m35-XS349 or 329? HELP!

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